Friday's tips for the Cheltenham Festival 2018

Gym clothes for men: Your ultimate kit

Want to get in shape? Physically getting to the gym is the first hurdle - so make it easier by investing in a capsule workout wardrobe that's as stylish as it is practical. Here's everything you need - so now you've got no excuse to get in a session on your lunch hour.

I feel I need to preface this by saying that I am not a natural sportsman. When I was in school, I was that kid who "accidentally forgot" my PE kit and dropped games classes to do personal study sessions as soon as I possibly could. However, after I turned 30 and my already spluttering metabolism seemed to fully grind to a halt, last year I got together with three of my colleagues to improve my fitness (you can read all about it here). It was an intense process of five-day-a-week gym sessions and, while I haven't quite kept up that frequency of visits, the whole experience taught me that having the right tools is the key to getting in shape, whether that be a really good deadlift programme or, even more simply, some really great kit to work out in.

Thanks to being surrounded by men and women who are way more physically accomplished than myself means that mustering motivation when I'm in the gym is easy - it's hauling myself there in the first place that's the real hurdle. When I first started on my workout journey, I realised quickly that the easier I made getting ready for the gym, the fewer excuses I'd have to skip it.

So I began to create myself a capsule wardrobe of gym kit that would not only be easy to throw together in the pitch black before stumbling out of the house, but would also be stylish enough to give my self-confidence a shot in the arm next to legions of gym gods. After all, you're bound to make a few mistakes whether you're just starting out or have been hitting the barbells for many years - at least you'll look good on the recovery.

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Gym clothes for men:

Here are the items that make up my failsafe gym kit. Pack them the night before, and you've got no excuse to skip a session.

P.s. Here's an extra lazy gymgoer tip from me to you. I've included lots of different colours below to show you that there's a lot of cool stuff out there, but to make to make the whole process even easier, keep your gym kit to either black, white and grey or two colours of your choosing (say navy blue and green). That way, everything will match with everything so whatever you pack will work. You're welcome.

Depending how often you intend to go to the gym, you'll need a whole selection of T-shirts as you'll need one per session before you get to your weekly wash. Five or six might seem like a big investment (and, if you go for some high-end sports brands, it's definitely can be), but the great thing is that more high street outposts than ever before are making them now. If you're just starting out check out HIIT at Burton, Gap Fit, H&M Active or M&S for some wallet-friendly options, or, if you're already way past being a beginning, try Castore for some seriously advanced, professional grade options. Whatever your price bracket, look out for something with added stretch to give you more movement - you might not be insanely flexible yet, but your shirt should be.

Personally, I found tracksuit trousers far too constrictive (and warm) in the gym. However, one of the things I noticed about many specific sports shorts is that they either do not have pockets or have shallow, open pockets. These were completely impractical for me as I either couldn't carry my phone or it simply bounced out. And don;t get me started on those little zip pockets at the back: good for small things like keys, but not so good when you forget about them then throw yourself down to do 50 sit-ups. Ouch. These from the J Crew x New Balance collaboration, were the best I found: light and loose, but with a generous zip pocket for any valuables I might need on a run.

Whether you are a man who suffers from bad circulation like me or not, compression tights are a brilliant addition to your workout wardrobe. Not only does the pressure from them help to encourage bloodflow (thus pumping oxygen around your body and aiding your recovery), but they also wick moisture away from your legs, meaning you stay comfortable for longer, no matter how intense your session. Marks & Spencer has just introduced a pair that are great for those starting out, with a price that's very hard to grumble at.

There are hundreds of trainers out there, all crafted for different sports and disciplines. However, if you're looking for great all-rounder, I've found few models finer than the Nike Zoom Command, which has added bounce in the sole for comfort during cardio, but is also sturdy enough to keep you grounded if you're planning on hitting those kettle bells.

Sure, you could wear those holey, ratty rugby knee-highs you got bought for school decades ago - but don't underestimate the power of specially designed workout socks. These from Lululemon have arch support and toe-padding built right in, as well as increased breathability. Plus they're cut low so you barely see them - almost like you're not wearing any socks at all (note: please do not do this, for the sake of all the other noses at the gym).

When you're concentrating on your workout, the last thing you want is your hair drooping down into your eyes when you sweat. If you're not up for shaving your head (and I've come close), get yourself a headband instead to keep your hair under control. This one from Lululemon is even infused with technology that combats the growth of odour-causing bacteria.

Gym kit takes up space, and unless you have the kind of office when you can leave your trainers under your desk, you're going to have to carry that kit with you all day. Do it in style with decent bag that has a cavernous interior. Here are two of my favourites. The one on the left is from cool British accessories label Passavant & Lee, and is not only crafted from beautiful soft leather with a hard bottom to give the bag structure, but it also has a lightweight aluminium panel in the site to protect your laptop from getting bashed around in your locker. On the right there's a slightly more causal option from Hrschel Supply Co, which has a shoe compartment built right in to ensure you get no polish marks on your white dress shirt for the office.

A banging playlist is essential for motivating me in the gym - or perhaps even a podcast on the treadmill. However, somehow I would always get myself tangled up in wires or my ear buds would pop out as soon as I broke a sweat. Getting a pair of Bluetooth headphones specially made to stay in place during exercise was a real game changer for my workouts - and quite frankly my commute too.

You get through a lot of water during a workout, so make sure it's the best damn water you can drink. I'm a big fan of the Brita Fill&Go Active Water bottle, which not only filters the water through a specially designed disc, but is also easy to open without using your hands if you're mid-cardo.

Of course, scent is very subjective, so all I'm going to say here is that whatever you like, just slip one into your bag to spray on after your workout - after communal showers and sweaty changing rooms, spraying on a great scent is just what you need to get your head back in the game. A personal favourite of mine are Byredo's super-portable leather travel editions, which you can fill with mini vials of the Swedish fragrancemaker's scents (I'd recommend the woody threesome La Sélection Boisée, featuring bottles of Black Saffron, Mojave Ghost and Super Cedar parfums).

If you've got the kind of hair that means you've already invested in that hairband I was taking about earlier, you're going to have to get it wet after your workout - which will also mean that, unless you want to go back to the office with moist shoulders, you are going to have to use the hair-drying station too. While I don't suggest you wash it every day, at least a few times you should shampoo it with something that will not only help it recover from touching those communal yoga mats, but also from the heat of the blow-dryer - such as this repairing Damage Remedy shampoo from Aveda.

Straight after a workout and a shower I'm still sweating, so I don't want to spray anything too heavy all over myself. The most effective I have found is Dove's fragrance-free option, Sensitive, which provides excellent protection without interfering with my cologne.

You're not going to go to the gym on days where you have to head back to the office afterwards. For the weekend, get yourself a tracksuit that you can wear out afterwards, something smart enough to pass at brunch, but cool enough to mean you don't perspire throughout. This monochrome one from Jack Wills is not only superbly stylish, but it has been designed as a part of the label's fitness line, so has great post-gym features like thermal protection and an anti-bacterial finish. Because slouching about on a Sunday shouldn't look slouchy.

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